Briquetting machine



June 6, 1933. L A 1,912,690

BRIQUETTING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. 22, 1930 Patented June 6, 1933 -uurrse stares {PATENT orrics JOHN Jen-En CALLAI-IAN, or Los emeritus, CALIFORNIA, AssIGNon or fqrwo-nrrrns ro VALENTINE J. ascents, onnrnnrrr T annoy n. BowLnsnND ONE-TENTH To WILLIAM s. CALLAHIAN, ALL or nos ensures,

CALIFORNIA MACHINE a App1ieation filed October 22, 1330, Serial 1510;490358. Renewed November 12, 1932.

My invention relates to machines for forming briquettes from finely divided material,

such as briquettes made from sawdust, coal-i dust, or other similar materials;

An object of my invention is to provide a machine for forming briquettes from finely divided material in whicha single die cons stituting a plurality of molds may be rotated to bring the molds into coincidence with a plurality of plunger-s for operatingthe various compressive steps in the forming of the briquettes. a a a Another object of my invention, is to providea briquetting machine of the character aroundthe axis of rotation of the rotatable die that a single operation of compression plungers will fill one mold with raw material, compress the raw material in another mold,

Will permit the heating or dryingot the material in the third mold, andiwill eject the finished briquettes from a fourth mold.

Another object of my invention is to provide a briquetting machine in which the several successive steps to be performed upon the raw material will be accomplished in cycles so that at any given instant in the operation of the machine there will be briquettes in each of the several steps of formation.

Another object of my invention is to provide a briquetting machine in which a rotatable die carrying a plurality of molds may be acted upon byiplungers coincident with the molds, and inwhich the motive power for reciprocating the plunger to form the briquettes is also utilized to rotate the die during the periods of retraction of the plungers.

Other objects of my invention will be apparent from the following description read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Figurel'is a top plan view of my briquetting machine. a a y 3 3 a Figure 2'is a side elevational view of the machine illustrated in Figure 1.

described in which fmolds' are sospaced Figure 3 is a detailed View of the rotatable die; and i Figure 4 is a detailed View of the intercation, a plunger-carrying head 4. The

plunger-carrying head is of relatively square lateral cross section andhas secured thereto a plurality of plungers for the purpose of pressing and ejecting briquettes of material to be formed by the machine; a a

1 I have illustrated along the lower edge of the plunger head 4:a

plungers 5 and 5a(5a not shown) which are rigidly securedto the plunger head 4 in any suitable mannerso that reciprocation of the plunger head causes a reciprocation of the plungers 5 and 5athrough a distance equal to that through which the plunger head t moves. 1

Along one side (the upper side illustrated in Figure l) I have illustrated an additional pair of plungers 6 andG a, also rigidly secured to theplunger head 4 for movementtherewith, these plungers 6and 6a constituting ejector plungers which are of considerably greater length than the plungers 5 and 5a. Along the upper edge of the plunger head 4: (as illustrated in Figure 2) I have illustrated a pair of tamper plungers or filler plungers 7 and 7a, these plungers being loosely mounted in the reciprocating head i, being guided by meansof an upstanding lug 8 through which the rearward ends of the plungers 7 and 7a pass. a a

The plunger carrying head 4 is connected as by means of a wristpin 9 and a connecting rod 10 to an eccentric 11 which in turn is mounted upon and rotates With a shaft 12.

pair of compressor Theshaft 12 is journaled in suitablebearings 13 located in a rearwardly extending portion 14 and 15 of the upstanding guides 2 and 3, respectively.

The foregoing construction constitutes a reciprocating plunger carrying system in which rotation of the shaft 12 will cause the plungers 5 and 5a, 6 and 6a, 7 and 7 a to be reciprocated between an extreme rearward position and an extreme forward position block 18 as its center.

upon each revolution of the shaft.

Immediately in advance of the plunger carrying head 1 is a plunger guide block 16 which is provided with suitable openings coinciding with the plungers 5-7a, inclusive. The plungers '5 and 5a operate in suitable openings 5?) and 50, respectively, the plungers 6 and 6a operating in suitable openings 6?) and 60, while plungers 7 and 7 a operate through apair of openings 76 and 70, respectively. Immediately above the openings 7Ziand I have illustrated a hopper 17 through which the material to be formed into briquettes may be fed into the plunger guide block 16 in a position to be pressed into a die block 18, located immediately in advance of. the plunger guide block 16.

By referring particularly to Figure 3, it will be observed that I have illustrated the die block 18 as being provided with a plurality of relatively large cylindrical openings therethrough, these openings constituting the molds into which the material to be formed into a briquette may be fed and there compressed to the size and shape desired. The molds are arranged around the die block 18 in groups of four, thus molds 19, 20, 2'1 and 22 constitute one group in which the individual molds are equally spaced around a circle having the center or axis 23 of the die In other words, the group of molds constituted by molds 19, 20, 21 and 22 are distributed at 90 apart around the face of the dieblock 18. A second group of molds is illustrated as comprising molds 19a, 20a, 21a and 2264, which are in like manner spaced equally around the axis 23 of the die block 18. The die block 18 is illustrated as beingr igidly secured to an axle 2 1, which is mounted for rotation under the influence ofan intermittent gearing 25 illustrated as comprising a Geneva cross movement, the star 26 being secured to the axle or shaft 2 1 while the cam and pin portion 27 of the Geneva movement is illustrated as being secured to a shaft 28. The relationship of the star 26 to the position of the molds 19, 19a, etc., is such that at any position of rest of the star wheel 26 one pair of molds (for example, 19, 19a) are aligned with the openings 7 b and 7 0 through which the tamper or filler plungers 7 and 7 a operate.

By referring to Figure 3, it will be observed that with molds 19 and 19a in this position, molds 21 and 21a will be in such position as to be in alignment with the openings 5b and 50 through which the plungers 5 and 5a operate, while, at the same time, molds 22 and 22a will be in alignment with the ejector plungers 6 and 6a.

If the die block 18 is rotated by the Geneva cross movement 25 to its next position, the molds 22 and 22a will move into the position previously occupied by molds 19 and 19a, while the remainder of the molds will also assume positions 90 in advance of the positions illustrated in Fig. 3. Further rotation of the die block 18 through the intermittent gearing 25 will successively present the molds 2121a and molds 20-20a, in the positions opposite the filler or tamper plungers 7 and 7a. With any selected pair of molds in position in front of the filler or tamper plungers 7 and 7a, the remaining molds are in positions coinciding with the other plungers 6-6a and 5 5a.

Since the molds 19-22a extend entirely through the mold or die block 18, it is necessary that the forward end of the molds shall be closed at a time when the plungers 7 and 7a are filling them with material and also at the time when the compressor plungers 5 and 5a are compressing the material in the molds, and for this reason, I have provided an anvil 30 which is secured to the bedplate 1 at the position just in advance of the die block 18 and has formed thereupona plurality of rearwardly extending bosses 31 and 32 in such positions relative to the die block 18 as to close the uppermost and lowermost pairs of molds at any given position of rest of the die block 18. If desired, the anvil 30 may be utilized as a bearing or journal member for supporting the shaft 24 which carries the die block 18.

It will be observed that a portion of one side of the anvil 30 is cut away to accommodate the inwardly turned end 33 of an ejection chute 34 to be brought into alignment with the ejection chambers 6 and 6a to receive the briquetted material when the same is ejected from the die block 18 by the ejector plungers.

The shaft 28, to which the pin and cam section 27 of the Geneva cross movement is secured, is illustrated as being connected as by means of bevel gearing 35 to the same shaft 12 which carries the eccentric 11. The shaft 12 may be driven in any suitable manner, such as that illustrated, comprising a pulley 36 secured to the shaft 12 to be driven by means of a suitable belt 37 arranged to be driven by means of an electric motor or any other rotary source of movement.

My invention operates as follows: Assuming that the position of the die block 18 is that illustrated in Figure 3, that the molds 19 and 19a are in alignment, respectively, with the filler openings 5?) and 5c, and assuming that the material to be briquetted, such as sawdust mixed with a suitable liquid or semithe plunger carrying head 4 toward the right,

as illustrated in Figure 1. Such movement will cause the plungers 7 and 7 a to move into the openings 5?) and 50, respectively, to displace the material therefrom and force such materialintothemold-openings 19 and 19a in the die block 18. j

By referring, particularly, to Figures 1 and 2, it will be'observed that Ihave provided against excessive filling of the molds 19 and 19051331 mounting the pl'ungers 7 and 7a loosely upon the plunger head 4.] The movement of the plungers to theright will be only such movement as isnecessary to completely fill the molds l9 and 19a. When these molds are filled, and therefore exert resistance against 1 further movement of the plungers 7 and7a,

the plungers cease to 1nove,even though the plunger head 4 may nothavecompleted its full movement toward the right.

By referring, particularly, to Figure 1, it will be observed that each of the plungers 7 and 7a is providedwitha collar 38 which may be pinned or otherwise suitably secured to the plungers; Between the collar 38 and the guidelug 8, through which the plungers pass, I have illustrated a compression spring 39 for each of the plungers. Thus the extent of movement of the plungers 7 and 7 a in their filling or tamping action is limited to just such distance as is requiredto fill the molds andany further movement of the plunger carryinghead 4 will be independent of further movement of the plungers 7 and 7a: Bysecuring the rearward ends of the plungers 7 and 7 a, as by means of adjusting nuts 40, the length of the actual stroke which is to be given to each of the plungers may be suitably adjusted to insure complete filling of the molds, and to insure that the quantity of material pressed upon by theplunger will not be greater than that which is desired to'be placed in the molds. j The molds 19and 19ahaving been filled, the further rotation of the shaft 12, under the influence of the belt 37 and pulley 36, will cause the connecting rod 10 to retract the plunger carryinghead 4 and to withdraw theplungers 7 and 7a to permit further molds to flow from thehopper 17 into the openings 5b and 50,,readyfor the next charging stroke of the filler or "tamper plungers.

By properly selecting the relationship of the gears 35 and by properly setting theG-eneva cross movement, the rearward move- Inent of the plunger head 4 will be accompanied by a rotation of the die block 18 through a quarterrevolution. This quarter revolution will move the now filled molds 19 and 19a to the position which had been occupied by molds 20 and 20a. 1 a It mayfbe desirable, in the treatment bf certain materials which are to be formed into briquettes, to apply heat during the briquetting process and for this purpose I have illustrated a heater pipe 41 as arranged on the side of the briquetting machine with its nozzle 42 directed against the side ofthe previously die block 18adjacent the positioning of the molds 20 and 20a, (when the die block is in position illustrated in Figure 3). i

The further rotation of the shaft 12 will again move the plunger head 4 toward the right, bringing the plungers 7 and 7a also to the right to force the material from the hop: per 17 into the further side of molds 22 and 22a, which are now in a position opposite to the plungers-7 and7a. 1 Upon retracting the plunger head 4, the Geneva cross gearing will cause the die block 18 to again be rotated to a quarter revolution, placing the now filled molds 22 and 22a in a positionadjacent the heater pipe 41 and moving the molds 19 and 19a, (which have now been dried or cured as the result of the heat applied), to a position previously occupied by molds 21 and 21a, (in the positionshown in Fig. 3). v ,1

With the molds 19 and 19a in the lowermost position, they are aligned with the compressor plungers 5 and 50; so that upon the" nextforward movement of the plunger head 4,the plungers 5 and 5a, which areof considerably greater length than the filler plungers 7 and 7a, will enter the molds 19 and 19a and compress the material therein into a compact mass or briquette. However,this forward movement of the plunger head compresses the material in molds 19 and 19a and I also causesthe molds 21 and 214; (which are now adjacent the plungers 7 and 7a), to be filledwith the material to be treated.

Upon recession of theplunger head'4, the die bloclc 18 'will again be rotated through a quarter revolution to present molds 19 and 19a to the ejector plungerst: and 66;, so that upon the next forward movement of the plunger head 4, the ejector plungers 6 and 6a willenter the molds 19 and 19a and eject the briquetted material therefrom,

It will be observedlthat the ejector plungers 6 and 6a are of considerably greater length than the compressor plungers 5 and 5a sothatupon, the forward movement of the plunger head 4 the plungers 6 and 6a willex tend entirely through. the die block 18, thus forcing the briquetted material from the die block into the passage 33 from which the material may be taken from the machine through the ejector chute 34.

It will be observed, therefore, that my machine will automatically feed material into the niolds,cure the material, compress the material into a briquette, and finally eject the briquetted material therefrom.

The employment of the die block 18 and the series of plungers all carried by the single plunger head 4, insures that upon each strokeof the plunger head f one of the four steps will be performed upon each four materials constituting each group of molds. Hence the machine once started continues in operation to produce briquetted material in a continuous process. 1

While the form of my invention illustrated isthe preferred embodiment, I do not desire to be limited to any of the details shown and described herein, except as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:- a v i 1. In a briquetting machine, a rotatable die having a plurality of briquette molds extending therethrough, said molds being arranged in groups of four molds each and spaced equidistant around the axis of said die, a set of reciprocating plungers for each group of molds, each set including a tamper plunger, a com pressor plunger and an ejector plunger, said plungers being spaced around theaxis of said die coincident with the first, third and fourth molds of each group respectively, means for reciprocating said plungers toward and away from said die, and rotating said die in intermittent steps of a partial revolution each to bring any given mold from a position coincident with one plunger to a position coincident with another plunger, said rotation occurring during the movement of the plungers away from the die.

2. In a briquetting machine, a rotatable die having a plurality of briquette molds extendingtherethrough, said molds being arranged in groups of four molds each'and spaced equidistant around the axis of said die, a set of reciprocating plungers for each group of molds, each set including a tamper plunger, a compressor plunger and an ejector plunger, said plungers being spaced around the axis of said die coincident with the first, third and fourth molds of each group, respectively, means for reciprocating said plungers toward and away from said die, and rotating said die in intermittent steps of a partial revolution each to bring any given mold from a position coincident with one plunger to a position coincident with another plunger, said rotation occurring during the movement of the plungers away from the die, and a stationary anvil abutting said die to close one end of the molds which are opposite said tamper plunger and said compressor plunger.

3. In a briquetting machine, a rotatable die having one or more sets ofbriquette molds therein, each set including four molds equally spaced around the axis of said die, a reciprocating head carrying one or more sets of plungers movable parallel to the said axis of said die, said plunger sets including a tamper'plunger, a compressor plunger and an ejector plunger, said plungers being spaced to coincide with three of the four molds, and a heater for said die spaced relative to said plungers to play upon the fourth mold, means for reciprocating said plungers toward said die and to retract the same and for rotating said die to move a given mold from alignment with one plunger to alignment with the next plunger during the retracting movement of said plungers.

4. In a briquetting machine, a rotatable die having one or more sets of briquette molds therein, each set including four molds equally spaced around the axis of said die, a reciprocating head carrying one or more'sets of plungers movable parallel to the said axis of said die, said plunger sets including a tamper plunger, a compressor plunger and an ejector plunger, said plungers being spaced to coincide with three of the four molds, and a heater for said die spaced relative to said plungers to play upon the fourth mold,means for reciprocating said plungers toward said dieand to retract the same and for rotating said die to move a given mold from alignment with one plunger to alignment with the next plunger during the retracting movement of said plungers, means yi'eldingly connecting said tamper plunger to said reciprocating head, and a material inlet mounted between said tamper plunger and said die.

5. In a briquetting machine, a rotatable die having one or more sets of briquette molds therein, each set including four molds equally spaced around the axis of said die, a reciprocating head carrying one or more sets of plungers movable parallel to the said axis of said die, said plunger sets including a tamper plunger, a compressor plunger and an ejector plunger, said plungers being spaced to'coincide with three of the four molds, a heater for said die spaced relative tosaid plungers to play upon the fourth mold, means for reciprocating said plungers toward said die and to retract the same and for rotating said die to move a given mold from alignment with one plunger to alignment with the next plunger during the retractingmovement of said plungers, a rotatable driving means for reciprocating said plunger toward said die and to retract them, and an intermittent gearing device connecting'said driving means to said die to rotate the die to move a given mold from one plunger to the next during the retracting movement of the plunger.

6. In a'briquetting machine, a rotatable die having one or more sets of briquette molds therein, each set including four molds equally spaced around the axis of said die, a recip rocating head carrying one or more sets of plungers movable parallel to the said axis of said die, said plunger sets including a tamper plunger, a compressor plunger and an ejector plunger, said plungers being spaced to coincide with three of the four molds, and a heater for said die spaced relative to said plungers to play upon the fourthmold, meansfor reciprocating said plungers to- Ward said die and to retract the same and for rotating said die to move a given mold from alignment with one plunger to alignment With the next plunger during the retracting movement of said plungers, and a stationary anvil abutting said die to close the molds lying opposite said tamper plunger and said compressor plunger."

Signed at Los Angeles, Calif., this 1( )th clay of October, 1930.

JOHN FRED CALLAHANQ 

